THE DEATH OF ELDER EPRHAIM RITTENHOUSE 1902

Locktown Church, Locktown NJ

[Even though we have reservations about his softening views of Predestination, still this minister chose to be buried in Welsh Tract Cemetery. - ed]

Elder Ephraim Rittenhouse was born Dec, 17th, 1819, in Hunterdon Co., N. J. His parents were members of the Kingwood church, and on August 15th, 1847, he was baptized in the fellowship of that church, by Elder Gabriel Conklin. His mother united with the same church shortly afterward, and on Feb. 10th, 18.19, they were married. Father soon hegan his public work of speaking and writing, a preliminary license having been given him in 1851, and I think his first letter was published in the Signs in that year. In July 1852, he was given a regular license, and he then began traveling abroad. I think his first visit was made chiefly to New York State, but later he began visiting churches in Delaware. He was ordained on April 13th, 1856, but he continued to reside near the Kingwood church, retaining his membership there, and traveling and preaching as there was opportunity, until March 1859. In April 1858, he received and accepted a call from the church in Wilmington, Delaware. 

In the course of the year three other churches united in the call, and in the spring of 1859 be moved to Delaware. He never moved again but lived for over forty-three years in the same house, and continued, without any interruption, to serve the same churches of which he then took the charge. He lived to see not only the children take the place of the fathers, but in several instances the grandchildren as well, there being now but one member living in any of his churches that was received before he came. He traveled considerably throughout the five adjacent States, but he never made long trips away from home, as he did not think it right to take many Sundays away from his own churches. In addition to his churches in Delaware, he will pastor for a few years of three churches in the Salisbury Association. lie took this additional charge with much reluctance, he was beginning to feel the weight of advancing years, but in one church (Little Creek) he baptized thirty-eight in the ten years that he served as pastor. According to his record, the whole number that he baptized was one hundred forty-seven. Two of the number are now gifted and capable ministers. I believe he assisted, in eight ordinations. He was never a strong, robust man, but he seemed to retain his measure of health and strength as had been given him until he began to weaken from old age. Even then he would not spare himself but continued to try to answer every call, going sometimes when it was really unsafe for him to leave home and taking long journeys alone, when we were distressed at seeing him start away. 

Our mother died on Oct. 20th, 1825, after a short but terribly severe illness. He never entirely recovered from the shock of her death; was never quite the same afterward, and continued to grieve for her as long he lived. After her death, his ministerial work, and the care of his churches, seemed to be all be lived for. 

In April of last year, while attending a yearly meeting in Wilmington, he got a fall, fracturing his hip, and causing him many weeks of suffering. We thought then that his work was ended, but he slowly recovered,  and after three weary months, he stood on his feet again. And was able once more to meet with him, clrnrcbeH, but his strength was actually broken, and it was in much weakness, and often in suffering, though he continued his work for three months more, and then the end came. He left home on Saturday, Sept. 21st, apparently as well as usual. He attended the yearly meeting at Cow Marsh, on that day and the next, and from them, he went to a meeting at Nasongo, on Wednesday and Thursday of the next week, and there, on Thursday, lie preached his last sermon. Elder Francis says of it, "I well remember the text, all that it was a sweet, comforting, gospel sermon. It was a fit ending to a long and useful life devoted to the ministry of the gospel, The text was Isaiah 51.1-2:  "Hearken to me-, you that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence, ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence you are dug. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bore you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him." 

On the 28th of September, two clays afterward, while he was sitting: quietly talking, the stroke came, paralyzing his entire left side, rendering him helpless, paralyzing his entire left side of his body. He was over one hundred, miles from home, but with the kindest of friends, and as soon as possible, we arranged to bring him home. We all felt that the case was hopeless from the first; that whether the time was long or short, it could have but one certain ending. So with no hope to cheer us, we cared for him for nearly thirteen months. Sometimes his mind would be most clear, and he would talk sensibly and rationally; at other times,  he would be restless and excited, so that it was hard to pacify or calm him. Throughout his sickness, it was not of himself that he thought, hut of his churches,, and his continual regret was that he was no longer able to visit them, and he hoped for months that by the next meeting day, he would be able to go. 

On Friday, Oct. 17th, his sister came to see him. He talked a little with her that night, and again the next morning and that was his last conversation on earth. He seemed drowsy throughout the day Saturday, and on Sunday he became unconscious and remained so until the end, which came at 8 o'clock on Wednesday morning October 2nd, just seventeen years and two days after our mother was taken from us. 

On Saturday, Oct. 25th, a large number of brethren, sisters, and friends, came together to see him laid away. Elders Grafton, Duran, Meredith, and Francis were with us, and all spoke comforting words, not only to the family, but to the many here who were to him as dear children, and who felt, with us, that they had lost a loved and loving father. 

Servant of God, well done; 

Rest from thy loved employ; 

The battle fought, the victory won, 

Enter thy Master's joy. 

KETURAH RITTENHOUSE. 

(THE family of our late beloved brother Rittenhouse requested that we write an obituary notice of his death, in which we publish a letter we ..ent his daughter, sister Keturah Hittenhonse, but &8 she has given so full a sketch of her father, life, and labor In the ministry, in the above letter, we feel that by appending our letter, which they wish published, in which we express something of the feelings of our heart regarding him and his life, we have said all we can say that would be of any interest or comfort.-C.) 

HOPEWELL, N. J., Oct. 27, 1902